Prayer is essential to the Christian life, bonding us to God. Yet in our frenetic world, we find it difficult to keep the mind focused for long. The task of quieting our minds and waiting on the Lord feels impossible with the clamor of inner voices vying for our constant attention. How can we slow down long enough to meditate of God? Virginia Stem Owens and Nan Doerr proffer a solution that calls on the physical senses to break through to the spiritual -- praying with beads.

Though a relatively new practice among Protestants, the use of prayer beads has a long history in practical spirituality. However, unlike many of the traditions Westerners are familiar with, Owens and Doerr focus on addressing God directly through verses from Scripture. The rhythm and repetition of these prayers help to focus the mind by giving us something physical to concentrate on. They also aid the memory so that in time of need, the verses are available. Beads can also serve as a visual reminder to pray, training us to seek God on a regular basis.

Owens and Doerr encourage us to use beads as "something to hang onto, a lifeline to the Presence that lies, often hidden or forgotten, at the center of out lives."